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Molecular Research in Psychiatric Disorders
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Molecular Research in Psychiatric Disorders

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 5809

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Akiyoshi Saitoh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
Interests: neuropharmacology; neuropsychopharmacology; opioid; anxiety; depression; reward; fear; antidepressant; anxiolytics; animal model
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the molecular research of psychiatric disorders has been a rapidly growing field that aims to better understand the biological basis of mental illness. This research area focuses on the molecular research of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders, as well as the molecular and genetic factors that contribute to their pathogenesis.

Advances in molecular biology and genetics are revealing specific genes and molecular pathways that may be involved in the development of psychiatric disorders. For example, research has shown that certain genetic variants increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while other genes may prevent these disorders.

In addition, molecular biological studies have shown that there are changes in the expression of certain genes and proteins in the brains of patients with psychiatric disorders. These changes affect brain function and may contribute to the symptoms associated with these disorders.

Research in this area has also led to the development of new treatments for psychiatric disorders. For example, drugs that target specific molecular pathways in the brain show promise for treating depression and schizophrenia.

In this Special Issue, Molecular research on psychiatric disorders invites papers and review articles that aim to advance our understanding of these complex mental disorders and suggest more effective treatments.

Prof. Dr. Akiyoshi Saitoh
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • schizophrenia
  • depression
  • bipolar disorder
  • anxiety disorders
  • psychiatric disorders
  • molecular biology
  • genetics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 1504 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Insights into Neuropsychiatric Illnesses and Ketogenic Therapies: A Transcriptomic View
by Smita Sahay, Priyanka Pulvender, Madhu Vishnu Sankar Reddy Rami Reddy, Robert E. McCullumsmith and Sinead M. O’Donovan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158266 - 29 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2942
Abstract
The disruption of brain energy metabolism, leading to alterations in synaptic signaling, neural circuitry, and neuroplasticity, has been implicated in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The therapeutic potential of ketogenic interventions in these disorders suggests a [...] Read more.
The disruption of brain energy metabolism, leading to alterations in synaptic signaling, neural circuitry, and neuroplasticity, has been implicated in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The therapeutic potential of ketogenic interventions in these disorders suggests a link between metabolic disturbances and disease pathology; however, the precise mechanisms underlying these metabolic disturbances, and the therapeutic effects of metabolic ketogenic therapy, remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an in silico analysis of transcriptomic data to investigate perturbations in metabolic pathways in the brain across severe mental illnesses via gene expression profiling. We also examined dysregulation of the same pathways in rodent or cell culture models of ketosis, comparing these expression profiles to those observed in the disease states. Our analysis revealed significant perturbations across all metabolic pathways, with the greatest perturbations in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the electron transport chain (ETC) across all three disorders. Additionally, we observed some discordant gene expression patterns between disease states and ketogenic intervention studies, suggesting a potential role for ketone bodies in modulating pathogenic metabolic changes. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding metabolic dysregulation in severe mental illnesses and the potential therapeutic benefits of ketogenic interventions in restoring metabolic homeostasis. This study provides insights into the complex relationship between metabolism and neuropsychiatric disorders and lays the foundation for further experimental investigations aimed at appreciating the implications of the present transcriptomic findings as well as developing targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Psychiatric Disorders)
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Review

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14 pages, 1136 KiB  
Review
Orexins/Hypocretins: Gatekeepers of Social Interaction and Motivation
by Sara Ouaidat, Inês M. Amaral, Diogo G. Monteiro, Hayat Harati, Alex Hofer and Rana El Rawas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 2609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052609 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2187
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of the brain’s orexin/hypocretin system, most research was directed toward unveiling its contribution to the normal functioning of individuals. The investigation of reward-seeking behaviors then gained a lot of attention once the distribution of orexinergic neurons was revealed. Here, [...] Read more.
Ever since the discovery of the brain’s orexin/hypocretin system, most research was directed toward unveiling its contribution to the normal functioning of individuals. The investigation of reward-seeking behaviors then gained a lot of attention once the distribution of orexinergic neurons was revealed. Here, we discuss findings on the involvement of orexins in social interaction, a natural reward type. While some studies have succeeded in defining the relationship between orexin and social interaction, the controversy regarding its nature (direct or inverse relation) raises questions about what aspects have been overlooked until now. Upon examining the literature, we identified a research gap concerning conditions influencing the impact of orexins on social behavior expression. In this review, we introduce a number of factors (e.g., stress, orexin’s source) that must be considered while studying the role of orexins in social interaction. Furthermore, we refer to published research to investigate the stage at which orexins affect social interaction and we highlight the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell’s role in social interaction and other rewarding behaviors. Finally, the underlying orexin molecular pathway influencing social motivation in particular illnesses is proposed. We conclude that orexin’s impact on social interaction is multifactorial and depends on specific conditions available at a time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Psychiatric Disorders)
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